At the Inaugural Prayer Service at Washington's National Cathedral on January 21, Bishop Mariann Budde bravely stepped into the role as a prophetic witness to the gospel. Addressing President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance directly, Budde urged compassion and justice, particularly for those marginalised by the President's newly signed executive orders. She spoke compassionately of the fear felt by LGBTQ children and immigrant communities, challenging rhetoric and policies that risk deepening societal divisions. Her sermon also highlighted the plight of those who labor in unseen roles—the farmworkers, dishwashers, and night-shift workers who contribute to society but live in constant vulnerability due to their immigration status.
Budde’s resistance to Trump is not new; she made headlines in 2020 when he used St. John’s Episcopal Church for a sham Bible photo opportunity, following the dispersal of racial justice protesters with chemical agents. At that time, Budde stated, “Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence… We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us” (The Washington Post, June 6, 2020). The reaction to her sermon on Tuesday has revealed the depth of polarisation, with Republican Representative Mike Collins of Georgia posting a video clip on social media, suggesting that Budde “should be added to the deportation list” (The Guardian, January 23, 2025). Speaking truth to power certainly requires massive courage—especially when the 'power' is the President of the United States and he has followers who use the kind of violence that led to the January 6 United States Capital attack.
Budde sees bravery as a key part of Christian discipleship, and she has written about it in her recent book, 'How We Learn to Be Brave : Decisive Moments in Life and Faith' (2023). She writes that the Christian life is one long brave journey requiring grace and wisdom. This includes learning to be socially brave - embracing the other and those we find challenging. The election of Donald Trump is emblematic of the deep divisions in America—political, racial, and economic. We need to pray for the American Church to not deepen these chasms but to bridge them with love and understanding. We should resist the temptation to demonise those with whom we disagree and instead to embody the reconciling power of the cross.
Stanley Hauerwas' writes in his important book Resident Aliens (1989), about the Church’s problematic entanglement with political power, urging Christians instead to recover our identity as a "peculiar people" shaped by the narrative of Jesus. Christians, therefore, should not trust in political leaders to bring about the Kingdom of God, and be wary of aligning too closely with any political agenda. Rather, we should bear witness to God's Kingdom of justice, mercy and peace. Following Christ means taking up our cross daily and standing against injustice, even when it comes at great personal risk. It means actively confronting oppression and advocating for the vulnerable.
It's no surprise that there has been a backlash against Budde's sermon. Our modern secular society has pushed faith to the private sphere, marginalising its influence in public discourse (...it's fine to have an Inaugural prayer service, as long as it doesn't influence my politics). Budde, however, is a great example of the Christian reimagining their role as in a secular world, not as a dominant voice imposing her belief, but as a faithful presence that invites others into the transcendent. In the context of politically polarised America, she has modelled a faith that offers meaning and hope, bridging divides not through coercion but through humble and authentic witness. This is the kind of alternative we should be offering the world to the fragmentation and cynicism of our age.
In our own country, Stan Grant has reflected on his own experiences as a First Nations person, writing powerfully about the wounds of history and the ongoing struggle for dignity and inclusion (Grant, Talking to My Country, 2016). His insights resonate as we consider the voices of the marginalised—both in the United States and here in Australia. The rise of Trump has, for many, brought fears of exclusion and increased vulnerability. And as we approach our next Federal Election over the coming months, we need to be reminded to stand with the least, the lost, and the lonely, advocating for their dignity and proclaiming the good news of Christ’s inclusive love.
This week we will experience cultural and political division on January 26. The ongoing debate over Australia Day—celebrated by some as a day of national pride but mourned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Invasion Day—reveals deep divisions within our society. For many First Nations people, this day symbolises the beginning of dispossession, trauma, and the loss of culture and land. As Christians, we are called to acknowledge this painful history with humility and to listen to the voices of Indigenous Australians who seek recognition, justice, and reconciliation.
In the words of Aboriginal theologian and Uniting Church minister Aunty Denise Champion: "Healing begins when we sit together and listen deeply, not to respond but to understand. Reconciliation is not an event but a way of life" (Yarta Wandatha, 2014). Her wisdom challenges us to embody the gospel’s call to unity and peace by prioritising genuine relationships and humility in our engagement with First Nations peoples.
Our faith compels us to pursue a vision of unity that honours the dignity of all people. How might we, as a congregation, engage with this issue in a way that reflects the heart of Christ? Let us commit to learning from Indigenous perspectives, advocating for justice, and being agents of reconciliation in our communities. In doing so, we embody the gospel’s call to love our neighbours and work toward God’s kingdom of peace and restoration.
As we seek to be faithful witnesses in these challenging times, let us be encouraged by Scripture. Jesus himself calls us to care for the marginalized, saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). And the apostle Paul exhorts us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). May these verses inspire us to embody God’s love and justice in all that we do.
We have an opportunity to model a different way of engaging with political difference and the world’s brokenness. Let us commit to being prophetically brave like Bishop Budde - speaking truth to power, while listening deeply, praying earnestly, and acting justly. May we be known as a community that reflects the reconciling love of Christ, offering hope in a time of division.
I invite you to join me in prayer for our world and our nation, for wisdom among leaders, and for courage to live as faithful disciples in challenging times.
Peter Carolane
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